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Year 10
Eduqas

'Jekyll and Hyde': the importance of science and religion in the novella

I can explain Stevenson’s views on science and religion and how these materialise in the novella.

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New
New
Year 10
Eduqas

'Jekyll and Hyde': the importance of science and religion in the novella

I can explain Stevenson’s views on science and religion and how these materialise in the novella.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Link copied to clipboard

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Arguably, Stevenson is critical of trangressive scientists.
  2. Stevenson plays on the real fears of scientific development and Darwinism in his novella.
  3. Stevenson, raised a strict Calvinist, rejected his faith.
  4. Calvinism was an evangelical branch of Christianity.
  5. Stevenson is arguably very critical of the role Christianity played in the moral and political aspects of society.

Keywords

  • The Enlightenment - the period in which people began to value reason and rationale as a means to pursuing truth, knowledge and freedom

  • To transgress - violate a boundary, law or social norm; go beyond established limits or norms

  • Evangelical - adherence to conservative religious beliefs

  • Progressive - favouring progress, reform or innovation; open to new ideas and social improvement

  • Piety - deeply religious devotion; demonstrating a strong commitment to religious principles

Common misconception

All Christians were against scientific development.

Within all religions (or groups in society) there will be plurality of thought, including progressive viewpoints.


To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: 'Jekyll and Hyde': the importance of science and religion in the novella, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

In learning cycle 2, when learning about the context behind Calvinism, you could separate pupils into groups and get them to explore separate chunks of knowledge from the table, feeding back to their peers.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' by Robert Louis Stevenson for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In which century was 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' written?
18th
Correct answer: 19th
20th
Q2.
What was the most widely followed branch of Christianity in Victorian Britain?
Catholicism
Correct answer: The Church of England
Calvinism
Q3.
What does the verb 'to progress' mean?
to stagnate or remain unchanged; lack forward movement
to regress or move backward; decline in development
Correct answer: to advance or move forward in development, improvement, or achievement
Q4.
The man who created the theory of evolution and wrote 'On the Origin of Species' was called Charles .
Correct Answer: Darwin, Darwin.
Q5.
What does the verb 'to enlighten' mean?
Correct answer: to provide knowledge or insight; to illuminate and broaden understanding
to confuse or obscure information; hinder understanding with misleading details
to narrow knowledge and limit awareness
Q6.
Who is the head of the Church of England?
Correct answer: The King or Queen
The Pope
The Archbishop

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
The era was a time where people began to value reason and rationale as a means to pursuing truth, knowledge and freedom.
Correct Answer: Enlightenment, Enlightenment.
Q2.
Which branch of Christianity did Robert L. Stevenson's parents follow?
Correct answer: Calvinism
Catholicism
Church of England
Q3.
Calvinsim was an branch of Christianity, this means it was not very progressive.
Correct Answer: evangelical, evangelical., Evangelical, Evangelical.
Q4.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', why might it be argued Stevenson was 'playing on contemporary fears'?
Some people feared death.
Correct answer: Some people feared Darwin's scientific theories.
His novella claimed God was not real.
Q5.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', why might some readers argue this novella is Stevenson's own criticism of Christianity? Select all that apply.
Correct answer: He associates piety to monotony.
He is critical of religious leaders.
Correct answer: Jekyll and other characters are blasphemous.
Q6.
With reference to 'Jekyll & Hyde', complete this quote, said by Stevenson, which suggests he enjoyed a dual life like Jekyll: “ are my veiled mistress; I love them, but know not what they are'.
Correct Answer: Ethics, ethics